Japan quake death toll hits 35 as auto and chip factories suspend productions

Tens of thousands of residents are without power and water in temperatures forecast to approach 40°C this weekend.

Japan's Kumamoto earthquake has halted chip and auto plants across Kyushu, raising supply concerns for Japanese and South Korean manufacturers.

SemiconductorsTokyo Electron and Renesas resume some operations but Sony and TSMC need more timeRenesas Electronics and Tokyo Electron are recovering from the July 28 Kumamoto earthquake. (Source photos by Shotaro Mori)Nikkei staff writersJuly 31, 2026 06:37 JSTKUMAMOTO, Japan/TOKYO -- Japanese chip industry facilities

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Shutdowns spread among semiconductor-related and other factories in Kumamoto Prefecture on Wednesday after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake